SSL: A Studio Legand Hits the Road
The SSL E-Channel delivers the incomparable sound of the Solid State Logic 4000-series console’s all-discrete design and its Class A, VCA chip. It’s a slice of the world’s greatest hitmaking machine, right there on your live desk.
The E-Channel EQ section is based on the renowned 1983 Black Knob equalizer, including a high-pass filter, low-pass filter, and a four-band parametric equalizer.
Its Dynamics section features a soft-knee compressor/limiter and an gate/expander, modeled on the SSL SL611E. It can be placed before or after the equalization section, and rounds out the chain with automatic makeup gain. As an insert on any instrument or vocal channel, the SSL E-Channel processor delivers clear, analog-warm sound, allowing for precise EQ tuning, thanks to very sharp Qs.
"The SSL E-Channel is great for female vocals, as a lot of today's PA systems lack a little bit of personality and life. By inserting it on my female leads, that life is brought back into the mix, through the EQ filter modules and dynamics."
Bryan "Froggy" Cross
FOH / Monitor Engineer
The Pussycat Dolls, Queen Latifah, Vertical Horizon
Direct from the Desk
The SSL E-Channel is an impressive channel strip that offers amazing mid-range clarity and punch, is straightforward, and very easy to use.
- Its gate/expander uses 3 parameters which are a breeze to tune. Simply set the threshold, range, and release, and you’re good to go.
- The E-Channel’s soft-knee compressor/limiter also offers 3 intuitive parameters: threshold, ratio, and release.
E-Channel has other cool features, like its Fast switch, which affects the compressor’s attack time, and sounds great on guitars. And the E-Channel’s automatic makeup gain is easy to tweak: Set the compressor to a slow attack and medium release times. When you apply hard compression with a high ratio, use the output fader to raise your output level.
The E-Channel’s EQ is the classic SSL EQ: sharp, bright, with a clear mid-range. It’s usually a good idea to set the input level to about -15dB on its meters. It paints the high frequencies sweetly, and its sharp Qs allow you to zero-in on offending frequencies and notch them out. And when you need wider Qs with more overlap between the bands, try the SSL G-Channel EQ.
Production Notes
Here’s a great way you can use SSL E-Channel to bring out the best from acoustic guitars:
- First, adjust the gain on your desk so the E-Channel input meter shows around -10 to -15 dB
- Then, set the E-Channel compressor to a slow attack for some easy compression. A Ratio of 1:3 and a Threshold of -10 to -15 dB should work well.
- Warm up the sound, by flipping the Analog switch to the On position.
- Set the high-pass and low-pass filters as needed.
- EQ the guitar to taste: For clean, crispy highs, put the HF band on bell, dial in the frequency to around 12 kHz, and push the gain up +6dB.
SSL E-Channel is available in The SSL 4000 Collection, and The Studio Classics Collection.
